PROJECT LSD 02.04 IAA REMOTE TOWER 28 th /29 th November 2018 Cranfield
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Project Overview and Scope Trial the provision of Air Movements Control (AMC) and Surface Movement Control (SMC) for Cork and Shannon airports remotely from the Dublin Air Traffic Control Centre in multiple aerodrome configuration using remote tower technology. Traffic for each aerodrome in 2015 was: Airport Commercial Non Commercial Total Shannon 18710 4584 23294 Cork 18141 23362 41503 Object tracking; IR Cameras; Record/Playback Functionality Reduction in cost through provision of tower services from a central location 3
Project actual timeline Call for Tender October 2014 Contract with System Supplier May 2015 System Installation June 2015 to March 2016 System Site Acceptance Testing May 2016 Regulatory Acceptance for Trials June 2016 Demonstrations Commence June 27th 2016 Demonstrations Conclude September 8th 2016 Demonstration report October 14 th 2016. 4
Demonstration Report Exercise Results and main findings Procedures: The Procedures defined for the Trials worked well and there was never confusion between the Local Tower & RTC as to who had Control. Potentially more frequent use of the Monitor instruction instead of the Contact instruction. On occasion you may have to handle smaller aircraft slightly differently than you do in the local tower compared to the local tower. 5
Demonstration Report Systems Exercise Results and main findings During the trial we experienced no system failure requiring a hand back of Control to the Local Towers. The vast majority of the Controllers comments were positive but some elements were commented on as follows: The Out of the Window view displays objects at <1/3 the size compared to the Local Tower. (Project teams view which is an approximation only) Map overlay displays, not that useful in daylight but useful in poor visibility and night hours. Object Tracking function is a good concept and tool for the Controller but it needs more work to become more reliable. The Radar tracking labels on the Out the Window view are nice to have but not an essential tool for remote tower operation. Multiple airport control functionality worked very well. PTZ (Pan/Tilt/Zoom Camera) is an essential tool and more than one per airport is required. The Radar data display is an essential tool for assisting the Controller to locate aircraft in the Out the Window view. The Electronic Flight Strip (EFS) function is a very good tool with significant benefits over paper strips. 6
Demonstration Report Exercise Results and main findings Remote Tower Operation does not reduce Controller workload If 2 Controllers AMC & SMC are moderately busy in the Local Tower, 2 Controllers AMC & SMC in the Remote Tower will be moderately busy Remote Tower Operation marginally increases workload Remote Tower Out of the Window view is not the same as the Local Tower In a Multiple Tower Operation there may be delays experienced that would not occur if it was only one Tower being Controlled. 7
Demonstration Report Exercise Results and main findings Shannon AMC & SMC Control was conducted from the RTC successfully during reasonably busy periods. Cork AMC & SMC Control was conducted from the RTC successfully during reasonably busy periods, including with a number of VFR items in the circuit. During the trials the following were the number of movements handled. IFR VFR ARRIVAL DEPARTURE TRANSIT ARRIVAL DEPARTURE CORK SHANNON CORK SHANNON CORK SHANNON CORK SHANNON 72 99 85 88 4 25 6 34 10 12 X T&G 2 X T&G TOTAL: 171 TOTAL: 173 TOTAL: 4 TOTAL: 31 + 14 T&G TOTAL: 44 8
Demonstration Report Exercise Results and main findings Multiple Tower Operations from the RTC were conducted successfully during a number of trials. As an example during one exercise a single Controller operating SNN AMC & CRK AMC in one 10 minute period managed: A Departure & Arrival in Shannon in Sequence An Arrival in Shannon followed by an arrival in Cork Simultaneously * *spaced by less than the time required if both were landing at the same airport. An arrival in Cork followed by a Departure in Cork. 9
Exercise Results and main findings Simultaneous Aircraft Operation Departure followed by a Departure Ideally time should be allowed between the two cleared for take-off instructions so that the Controller can monitor the roll and initial departure of the first aircraft before clearing the second aircraft for take-off. 10
Exercise Results and main findings Simultaneous Aircraft Operation cont d Departure followed by an Arrival Ideally time should be allowed between the cleared for take-off instruction so that the Controller can monitor the roll and initial departure of the departing aircraft before the arrival aircraft is 1nm from touchdown at the other aerodrome. 11
Exercise Results and main findings Simultaneous Aircraft Operation cont d Arrival followed by a Departure ideally the landing aircraft should be steady on the Runway before Clearance for take off is given to another aircraft at the other aerodrome. 12
Exercise Results and main findings Simultaneous Aircraft Operation cont d Arrival followed by an Arrival ideally the first landing aircraft should be steady on the Runway before the second arrival aircraft is 1nm from touchdown at the other aerodrome. 13
Exercise Results and main findings Simultaneous Aircraft Operation cont d Management of the arrivals to meet this guideline will be difficult due to the unpredictable relative speeds of aircraft on approach at the two airports. In the event that this guideline cannot be achieved it is suggested that the Controller will use best judgement to allow the second aircraft to continue to land or not. 14
Next Steps and Deployment The IAA now seeks to implement this advanced Remote Tower technology and to capitalise the money it has spent to date. The plan is to re-locate the RTC equipment that is located in Dublin and move it to the Shannon ACC. Install all of the other necessary equipment and commence trials for Shannon airport in late Q2 2019 to progress to H24 Operations Q1 2020. 15
Shannon Remote Tower High Level Planner Regulatory acceptance: - RTC Trial Training Plan Regulatory acceptance: - RTC Trials Safety Case to Regulator RTC Live OPS Regulatory Acceptance RTC OPS Training Needs Analysis Nov 2018 Jan 2019 Current Status Budget Approved Contract imminent with SAAB Staff Briefing complete Project Kick off complete Project teams working SRD briefing 23 rd Nov RTC Room Preparation Development of RTC Trial Training Plan Feb 2019 Console Install IAA Equipment Installation: - Main VCCS - Backup VCCS - IRVR - ANEMO RTC OPS Training for ORG RTC Staff + Others* Development of RTC Trial Safety Case Mar May June 2019 2019 2019 Shannon Remote Tower High Level Planner Apr 2019 Site Installation of: - SAAB RTC Equipment Safety Case to Regulator: - RTC Trials RTC Live Trials Site Acceptance of SAAB RTC Equipment Oct 2019 Jan 2020 Controller Training Feb 2020 March 31st 2020 June 2019 Shannon RTC OPS H24
SAAB Remote Tower Symposium Malmo 2011
REMOTE TOWER.. Why bother? What's wrong with the current Tower? Well Maybe..
Maybe you just cant afford it!
Better use of Controllers?
Maybe your tower building just won t last forever
Maybe it just in the way of a New Building!
Maybe your Tower might get a puncture
REMOTE TOWER..